Everton on-loan youngster could leave the club

Everton have a whopping sixteen players out on loan in this second half of the season. Considering the senior side is as terrible as it is, that’s either a bad sign that the management has no idea who they should keep and who they should ship out, or it’s a worse sign if the sixteen sent out are actually no better than the players we kept. Yikes.

In the meantime, hybrid defender slash midfielder Callum Connolly has been speaking to the local media about his time at Ipswich Town, and what the future could hold for him. He has 3 goals in 24 appearances for the Tractor Boys, almost all of them in the middle of the park.

From an interview with Green’Un24, he commented first on the prospect of a permanent transfer when his loan spell at the end of the season comes to an end.

“There is always a possibility in football. Anything can happen. Let’s see what happens between now and the end of the season.

“Obviously I’m enjoying my football at Ipswich Town and I’ve been made to feel at home here, even though it is a long way from home.

“This has been my biggest loan so far. It’s worked well so far, but I still want to kick on and go that extra step and keep on pushing the boundaries.

“I still feel I’ve got an extra gear to go into and I need to be pushing into that over the next few weeks and have a strong end to the season. I feel like I haven’t reached my full potential.

“The ultimate aim is to play in the Premier League – whether that is with Everton or somewhere else. That’s what I am working towards.”

The Tractor Boys sit in 13th place in the Championship and are unlikely to make it up to the Premier League this season on current form, but it’s good to see the 20-year-old set the bar high for himself.

The Toffees lack of depth across the defence is worrying and a player of Connolly’s versatility will be very important for the Blues going forward. Despite filling in at left back during the preseason and being listed as a center half, he has actually made a name for himself at Ipswich at the central defensive midfielder position where he’s been imposing in the air and fearless on the ground.

The Litherland-born local lad has adjusted well to moving away from Merseyside, but expressed some disquiet that he hasn’t heard enough from his parent club Everton.

“I’ve had contact with Everton, but not as much as I expected. I think they’ve just let me get on with my football.

“There hasn’t been as much support as I’ve wanted to be honest, but obviously it’s a man’s game and I’m learning the game on my own.

“When there are not that many people around you supporting you it can be tough, but that’s when you come into your own. I feel like I am growing up.

“It’s not easy coming away from home. It’s five hours from mine in the car. I haven’t been home much, but it’s all character building. I needed this in my career. I needed to come away from home, come out of my comfort zone.

“It’s been tough at times, I admit that, but I am enjoying my football.”

With the turmoil that has been going on at Finch Farm this season, it is probably for the better that Connolly has been insulated from the chaos that is about to envelop the club again.

In the meantime, we sincerely hope that Everton continue to show their commitment to the youth and give the youngster a new deal with his current contract set to expire at the end of the 2018-19 season.